The Nye Beach Writers' Series Presents Ceiridwen Terrill

Ceiridwen Terrill is working on a new book, "Inyo," about wolf-dogs in the United States. She lives on her sailboat, Whistledown, with her dog, Thelma.

(NEWPORT, Ore.) - The award-winning Nye Beach Writers Series' will feature nonfiction author, Ceiridwen Terrill on Saturday, April 26th. Her performance begins at 7:00 PM in the Newport Visual Arts Center in Nye Beach.

Ceiridwen Terrill specializes in literary nonfiction, including environmental journalism, science writing and memoir, with a focus on urban ecology, urban/wild conflicts, and the intersections of gender, culture and science.

In 2006 the University of Arizona Press published her book, "Unnatural Landscapes: Tracking Invasive Species." She has also published work in Isotope: A Journal of Literary Nature and Science Writing, Oxford American, and the anthology, What Wildness Is This: Women Write About the Southwest.

An avid backpacker, kayaker, and sailor, Terrill is an assistant professor at Concordia University in Portland where she teaches literary nonfiction, including environmental journalism and science writing.

"Unnatural Landscapes" provides a compelling introduction to invasion ecology and restoration management. On her website she recommends:

1) in landscaping prefer native plants over exotic ones. Native plants attract birds and butterflies and will lower the risk of birds ingesting exotic seeds and spreading them.

2) Buy birdseed for your feeders that has been cracked or cooked so that it doesn't germinate and spread; shake out your camping gear so you don't carry around any seed hitchhikers, hose your car tires and hiking boots. Pick the seeds out of your shoelaces.

3) A lot of folks don't want to hear this but leash your dogs in wild areas. Dogs can carry seeds in their fur and between their toes. They also break down the soil around stream banks. Invasive plants love disturbed soils.

4) If you're a horse person and you trail ride, buy weed-free feed. If your feed store doesn't carry it, keep asking until they do.

5) Don't own exotic pets. But if you do, don't let them go! They may escape and become invasive (snakes, for example). Never dump aquariums into streams. Aquarium plants can take over a native stream system.

6) If you're a boater, empty your bilge water, hose your boat down and allow it to dry completely before entering a new waterway, so you don't take any hitchhiking snails or mussels or plant species with you.

Ceiridwen Terrill is also an herbalist who teaches people how to remove invasive plants and use them to make medicines. Presently, she is working on a new book, "Inyo," about wolf-dogs in the United States. She lives on her sailboat, Whistledown, with her dog, Thelma.

The Nye Beach Writers' Series is pure entertainment and showcases authors of diverse types of writing including fiction, nonfiction, plays, songs, Oregon history, memoir, poetry, essays, and investigative journalism. Almost 300 authors have been featured since its monthly literary events began in 1997. Readings and performances are appropriate for writers and readers who appreciate good writing and diversity of thought.

Future featured authors include Doug Thompson, Jan Baross, Derrick Jensen, Charles Rossiter & Dan Wilcox, Donna Henderson, Sharon Wood-Wortman, and Carlos Reyes.

Writers On The Edge is also offering a summer writing workshop in August for youth aged 7 to 10. Pre-registration is required; class is limited to 12 students. All participants receive full scholarships. Workshop students will perform at the August 16th Nye Beach Writers Series.

Workshop details and Writers' Series schedule information are available at writersontheedge.org. To receive email notification of upcoming events contact Carla Perry at 541-574-7708, or send an email to info@writersontheedge.org.

Writers On The Edge, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to literary arts in Lincoln County, is supported by donations, admission dollars, and by grants from the Oregon Arts Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency, and by the Lincoln County Cultural Coalition, which regrants money from Oregon Cultural Trust, a statewide organization that invests in Oregon's arts, humanities and heritage.

Lodging for Ceiridwen Terrill is provided by Newport's Shilo Inn. All donations to Writers On The Edge are fully tax-deductible.

Admission is $5. Tickets are free to students. An open mike follows. This live literary performance is co-sponsored by the Oregon League of Conservation Voters, and by Mountain Writers Series of Portland, Oregon.